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We have written this guide on how to unlock an iPhone (don’t worry – the information can also be applied to other makes and models).

Why unlock your phone?

An unlocked phone gives you the freedom to use it on any network in the world, so you are not tied to one single mobile network operator. Want to avoid excessive roaming charges on holiday? No problem – just pop in a local SIM!

How to unlock an iPhone

The mobile phone unlocking process is quite straightforward, but should not be confused with mobile phone unblocking (using a PUK code to remove a temporary block placed on your SIM card – often caused by entering your SIM card PIN incorrectly 3 times).

There are three ways to unlock your iPhone: official carrier unlocking; unofficial carrier unlocking; and jailbreak unlocking. Each method has pros and cons.

Official carrier unlocking is the ‘official’ way to permanently unlock your iPhone. It involves contacting your carrier and asking them to unlock your iPhone. The cost of unlocking your mobile, the time it takes to complete and any other requirements varies from carrier to carrier. For example, if you are with EE, Orange, T-Mobile or Virgin you must have had your handset registered with them for at least 6 months and it will take them up to 20 days to unlock your phone.

Note that there are a few caveats which will apply to most – if not all – network providers. Your IMEI number must not be blacklisted and you must not owe your network provider any money. An official iPhone unlock with EE cost around £20 at the time of writing.

Unofficial carrier unlocking involves paying a third party to arrange the unlocking of your phone. This method is often faster than going direct to the network and is permanent, but can be more costly than official carrier unlocking.

If you are considering using an unofficial unlock service it is important to make sure they are offering a reliable and legitimate service – otherwise you run the risk of them disappearing with your money or providing a poor service. Try to find unlocking service reviews by verified purchasers on trustworthy third party review websites such as TrustPilot. This is a great way of checking you are dealing with a credible company.

The third and final method – jailbreaking –is a temporary software-based means of unlocking your iPhone. It can be quite technical as it involves unofficially modifying the operating system on your iPhone using software downloaded from the internet. And if you update your operating system in the future it could reverse the unlock. However, this method is free (and fast if you know what you’re doing). If you understand the risks, and don’t mind a temporary solution, jailbreaking is probably the only way you’re going to be able to unlock your iPhone for free.

Apple’s Activation lock is a security feature built into iOS 7 which is automatically turned on when you set up an iCloud account. Its purpose is to make it hard for someone else to use your iPhone or iPad if it is stolen.

Of course, when it comes to recycling your iPhone or selling your iPad this can cause problems because the Activation lock can render the hardware useless without the original owner’s password. This is why if you go to sell your iPhone or iPad to Gecko Mobile Recycling we ask you to remove the lock before you send your device to us.

How to remove Apple’s activation lock

Apple’s Activation Lock can be removed in one of two ways. The easiest way to remove it before you sell your iPhone or iPad – and also protect your personal data – is to erase all content settings by choosing Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Of course, if your iPhone or iPad is faulty (for example, if your mobile has a cracked display), it may not be possible to follow that procedure. In that case, remove Apple’s activation lock and erase your device by signing in to your iCloud account, then click All Devices to open a list of devices linked to your account and select the device to be removed. Then click the Erase button to erase all content and settings from your device (when prompted, don’t enter a phone number or message). Click Next until your device is erased. When the erase is complete, click “Remove from Account” to remove the device from your account.